The Sanfords lived at 9114 South Central Avenue, in Watts.
The title is based upon the often used quote from Shakespeare's play Hamlet, "To be or not to be." Coincidentally, the episode "A Matter of Life and Breath," from earlier this season, was based on the "Steptoe and Son" episode titled, "T.B. or not T.B.," which is also taken from the same quote.